I use 1/4" minus crushed fines. One club member bought gravel that had iron in the mix. This caused some problems with the brass track due to water helping the iron and brass to make a battery condition exist. As we know, electrons flowing from one metal to another build up deposits on one and weaken the other.
I have had ballast without cement for three plus years. I have had to reballast this summer. Get crushed rock, not river rounded pebbles. One member cemented ballast right up to the rail head. In my opinion a BIG mistake! Cemented ballast ripped some locomotive counter balance weights or ground sliders on electric locos. Cemented ballast also is a great method of ripping flesh off knuckles as one places cars on track or rerails cars. My main gripe about ballast is the area cats' greatest praise . . . I used asphalt shingles under track with ballast on top for weed prone areas only. The shingles also tend to even out terrain somewhat and are very weed resistant. Of course some weeds still take root in the hydroponic growing medium otherwise known as ballast. Weeds pull out of ballast easily when young. I plan to move in a year or so and therefore am of similar mind as you Planful Trot. After track and asphalt shingle is removed, a rototiller will mix in the gravel and all will appear as garden. Gary - Running trains over Terror Trestle in Eugene, Oregon http://www.angelfire.com/or/trainguy http://community.webshots.com/user/raltzenthor Ok... since I'm thinking about it seriously now here a couple of questions. I want to go with ballasted construction for the rails. There's a stone dealer right next to my development so it shouldn't be hard to get fill gravel and grit for the line. What types do I want? I'm thinking of a 6"x6" trench lined with weed blocker, partially filled with coarse gravel (~.5"-.75",) and topped of with quarter minus or chicken grit for the top and ballast. and then re-ballast as needed. Is there a better way to go without pooring concrete? I don't like the idea of concrete roadbed even though I've been told that I should go that route. I only plan to be in this house for 5-7 years so I want to be able to rip it all out if need be without too much trouble. I also like the idea of maintaining it like the real deal used to do. Trot, the planning, fox... | /\_/\ TrotFox \ Always remember, | ( o o ) AKA Landon Solomon \ "There is a | >\_/< [EMAIL PROTECTED] \ third alternative." >I live up North of Frisco, close to Celina, I have been moving dirt and >preparing Sub grades for pads for 31 years locally. I am very familiar with >the soils and solutions to minimize the movements > >If you need any thing just let me know > >Clint D _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail
